Copy of Macbeth: Animal Imagery and Symbolism

Comments (0)

Transcript of Copy of Macbeth: Animal Imagery and Symbolism

MacbethAn analysis of animal imagery and symbolismThe uses of animal imagery in MacbethThe Uses:It makes the play more interestingUsed to describe events and in a more engaging wayPredominant AnimalsSnakeVarious birdsHawkOwlRavenHorseMajor Animals and their SuperstitionsSnakeOwlRavenLions and HorsesFalconSong birds/ Wrensmall, weak and fragilecan signify a beautiful daysly evilrelated with temptationcynicismCombine Everything!The OwlFalconSnakeBanquo that was the danger to Macbeth then, is referred to as the serpent and Fleance as the worm. Realizes later on, Fleance may be a threat, so he will change from an invaluable worm to a poisonous snake Helps the viewer understand how Macbeth feels about the escaping of Fleance"A falcon tow'ring in her pride of place Was by a mousing owl hawk'd at and killed"Other significant animal imageryChickensTiger and BearThe Witchesthey used many things that would be considered evil and just undesirableSuch as hedgehogs, which were considered to be malignant spirits in disguisefrogs, bats, lizards, sharksthey mentioned "the brindled cat", which is a cat with black/brown streaks of fur. This was sign of bad luck.Displays how vile, disgusting and evil these witches were, which gave the audience all the reason to either be afraid or develop a strong hatred towards them.Many animals were tied in with the witches, especially during the Cauldron sceneThe progression of Macbeth's personality through animal imageryFinally, the play ends in complete disgrace for Macbeth. Not only does all his effort go to waste, he is downgraded once again and is compared to a dogAt the very beginning, we are introduced to Macbeth, thinking he is a very noble and brave soldier. Moreover, this was the perspective of someone else so he was also very respectedHelps to understand the play better, as the viewer has something to connect to.Cry/hoot is related with deathIll omen, also closely related to deathalways found on battlefields, as it is a scavengerpowerful and smart seen as brave and can be closely compared to a soldierBoth are seen as loyal and dutiful animalsPeople were very dependent on horses for travel so they needed to be nobleArchetypesThe WitchesTypicalPhysical AppearanceModern ExamplesThe Hero: MacduffModern ExamplesNice guys finish first?Once a hero, always a heroThe KingModern ExamplesI respect you to deathThe Old ManModern ExamplesWisdom comes with ageArchetypesThe WitchesTypicalPhysical AppearanceModern ExamplesThe Hero: MacduffModern ExamplesNice guys finish first?Once a hero, always a heroThe KingModern ExamplesI respect you to deathThe Old ManModern ExamplesWisdom comes with ageForeshadowDescriptionEmotion/ThemetgrtyrtyrCan be used to foreshadow eventsUsed to describe MacbethUsed to compare thingsHelps with the dramatic ironyCreates emotionMinor Animals in the PlayScorpionLionTigerBearEagleBeetleChickenFrogCatRhinoceros Maggotsworm"Look like the innocent flower, But be the serpent under't." (1, 6, 65)Used as a descriptor Makes speech more interesting Be fake, be deceiving, be undetectable like a snake Lady Macbeth thinks like a snake,gives insight on characteristics"It was the owl that shriek'd, the fatal bellman which gives the stern'st good-night"Compares the owl with the night watchman who guards the prisoners who are sentenced to deathAlso foreshadows Duncan's murder"The obscure bird clamour'd the livelong night"Describes the situation, and the disorder that occurs when a king is murdered.foreshadows when everyone finds about the murdershows the disorder everyone is put throughgives viewer a better understanding of what was going on and how distressed people feltcompares the mighty falcon with a measly mouse eating owl, people are beginning to realize there is now a lot of chaos.Viewer sees that Duncan = Falcon and Macbeth= owl and it's just not right"Augures, and understood relations, have By maggot-pies, and choughs, and rooks brought forth The secret'st man of blood"(3,4, 124-126)even the best criminals have been exposed because of these birdsforeshadowing for when Macbeth gets caughtHorses"I have no spur To prick the sides of my intent, but only Vaulting ambition which o'erleaps itself and falls on th'other"Macbeth compares himself to an eager horse that has too much ambition and not enough drive, so he will fall flatgives viewer perspective on how Macbeth is feeling and even his personalityMakes the play more interesting, gets the viewer thinking and connecting so they don't get bored at the end of his soliloquies."What, all my pretty chickens and their dam At one fell swoop?" (Act 4, Scene 3, Lines 255-226).Chickens are helpless, vulnerable and get frightened easilyFeel sympathy for Macduff and his familyplays with emotiondescribes how brutal this killing really wasTigers,Bears and Rhinos are all very powerful, fierce and dangerous animals Shows Macbeth's desperation Gives audience a taste of how he is feeling"I dare not' wait upon 'I would', like the poor cat i' the adage?"(1,7,44-45)Shows that Lady Macbeth is ready to work hard for things she wants, she is ready to get her hands dirty, unlike MacbethShows Lady Macbeth's intentAudience may be in shock to see a woman behave this wayPlays with emotions and used to describe a character"approach thou like the rugged Russian bear, the armed rhinoceros, or the Hyrcan tiger""They have tied me to a stake; I cannot fly, But bear-like I must fight" (5,7,1-2)Trapping a bear and attacking it with dogs was a sportThey fight quite fiercely, and Macbeth compares himself to that.Macbeth seems to be ignorant to the fact that he will loseforeshadowing his deathWren +Owl"the poor wren, the most diminutive of birds, will fight, her young ones in her nest, against the owl" (4,2,8-10)The wren is a very small bird compared to the owl, so it is unfair as the Wren is helplessforeshadows the attack on her familyaudience will feel sorry for the family when they are attacked, as the analogy was put forth ahead of timeAct 4Recap" as sparrows, eagles or the hare, the lion"Next, the audience discovers that he is not so noble after all, as he murders the kindhearted Duncan to replace him.He then gets downgraded from 'lion' and 'eagle' to a 'mousing owl'. He stooped so low as to kill the king so he is compared to a bird of bad luck."A falcon tow'ring in her pride of place was by a mousing owl hawk'd at and kill'd" (2,4,13-14)"Turn, hell-hound,turn" (5,8,3)Through animal imagery and symbolism we can see Macbeth's gradual downfall in his community."There the grown serpent lies; the worm that's fled Hath nature that in time will venom breed, No teeth for th'present"